Though Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made historical past on Monday by profitable the Residence Run Derby to comply with in his father’s footsteps, viewership for this yr’s occasion definitely will not be entering into the file books any time quickly.
Guerrero’s victory allowed him to be a part of the one father-son duo to have every member win a title, however the Derby introduced in its lowest viewers since 2018, Sports activities Enterprise Journal reported on Tuesday.
Together with his father, Vladimir Guerrero Sr., having received the 2007 Residence Run Derby, Guerrero Jr. slugged 72 homers at T-Cell Park in Seattle on Monday to take the 2023 crown. He went deep 25 instances within the remaining to beat Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena, who mashed 23 lengthy balls.
ESPN and ESPN2’s protection of the occasion introduced in 6.11 million viewers, an 11 p.c drop from final yr’s Derby, the place Juan Soto beat Julio Rodriguez 19-18 for the title. It was additionally the least-watched Derby since Bryce Harper edged Kyle Schwarber — additionally by a remaining rating of 19-18 — 4 years in the past.
ESPN’s broadcast accounted for five.52 million viewers, whereas ESPN2’s amassed simply south of 600,000. ESPN didn’t have the chance to profit from viewers within the Toronto market, as Nielsen figures focus solely on the US.
Regardless of the smaller viewers, the Derby ended up because the summer season’s most-watched occasion on ESPN, and it’ll seemingly keep that manner. It additionally nonetheless pulled in way more viewers than the 2023 NBA All-Star Sport (4.6 million on TNT and TBS).
–Discipline Stage Media
